June 2026

Jubilee Year of Saint Francis on the 800th Anniversary of His Death 

June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High.

OUR LADY, QUEEN OF ALL HEARTS,

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HEART OF JESUS, HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

HEART OF JESUS, WELL-SPRING OF ALL VIRTUE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

We confess you, we praise you, and we bless you, God the Father, the unbegotten, God the Son, the Only Begotten, and God the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, all holy and undivided Trinity.

(Traditional Antiphon)

Welcome to June dear faithful readers. Oh what a glorious month it is, one dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Go to the HEART of JESUS; there you will find the fullness of God. Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us. And what is it that Jesus to said to one of Gertrude of Helfta's (1256-1301/2) sisters? You will find me in the heart of Gertrude. Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, have mercy on us! Saint Gertrude the Great of Helfta, pray for us. 

There is so much to celebrate this month, including, June 7 with The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Corpus Christi.

Full and clear ring out your chanting,

Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting,

From you heart let praises burst:

For today the feast is holden,

When the institution olden

Of that supper was rehearsed.

(The Sequence Laud, O Zion, Lauda Sion)

Then on June 12, we are gifted with The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; for June 13, The Immaculate Heart of Mary; for June 24, The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, and wrapping up the month with the June 29 celebration of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. Celebriamo tutti!

So, what might be about this month ... hmmm. In addition to continual invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary using one of your favorite titles for her, or two or three of your favorites, like Mary, cause of our joy, or Mary, Health of the sick, it may be good for us to remember that Jesus is in the heart of each and every one of us. Sadly, we sometimes forget that gift, or maybe just imprison Him in our hearts when His love for us, and His love for all those we encounter is begging us to let His LOVE shine forth. Let LOVE and JOY abound dear faithful readers; spread LOVE and JOY throughout the earth ... let LOVE and JOY shine on those near and far ... let HIM shine, let HIM shine, let HIM shine.

With encouragement from not a few voices, we go forth!

To serve God is to reign.

(Saint Antonius of Florence OP, 1389-1459)

I have always something to repent of after having talked, 

but have never been sorry for having been silent.

(Saint Arsenius the Great, d. 450)

In moments when fever, agony, and pain make it hard to pray, the suggestion of prayer that comes from merely holding the rosary-or better still, from caressing the Crucifix at the end of it-it is tremendous!

(Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, 1895-1979)

Let us live hour by hour, day by day, and leave the future to God.

(Blessed Hendrina Stenmanns, 1852-1903)

He who trusts himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.

(Saint Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787)

Those who want to find the right way to eternal well-being should not walk with the majority of people who are usually timid about making sacrifices ... Authentic spirituality comes about not by talking about God, but living according to God's command. Without this obedience, even wonderful acts mean nothing.

(Blessed Franz Jagerstatter, 1907-1943)

The Interior Master is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus ...

Loyalty to the Interior Master requires a life that is habitually recollected enough to enable us to hear and obey Him, a life of habitual and voluntary docility to the good as we see it, so that we shall not resister the voice of the Master once we recognize it.

(Father Leonce de Grandmaison, S.J., 1868-1927)

Do your little bit of good where you are; 

it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.

(Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1931-2021)

Mr. James Ponder to Theo:

People like you renew my hope in humanity.

Theo's reply:

Yes, we can be such a terrible race at times, but, at the same time, terribly wonderful. All capable of saintliness. You, too, James. You too.

(in Allen Levi, Theo of Golden)

Love is a vital sap; if it fails or if it is not sufficiently abundant, 

everything grows weak, especially faith.

(Venerable Louise Margaret Claret de la Touche, 1868-1915)

He who truly loves, and loves with his heart, must of necessity live in harmony with all. We do not wish to do as the ass; when you shove away the ass it will push itself towards you; and if you draw it to you, it draws itself backwards. Do not so when you see that a certain thing is needed for the good of your neighbor; see to it that you always help him.

(Saint Bernardine of Siena, 1380-1444)

I figure you have to make a bet. You can't go through this life and just be a spectator without ever laying it on the line. I'm betting on God to win, not to show.

(James Farl Powers, 1917-1999)

The gift of life is no less beautiful if it is accompanied by illness or weakness, hunger or poverty, mental of physical handicaps, loneliness or old age. Indeed, at these times, human life gains extra splendor as it requires our special care, concern and reverence. It is in and through the weakness of human vessels that the Lord continues to reveal the power of His love.

(Servant of God Terence Cooke, 1921-1983)

SAINT JUSTIN, MARTYR,

SAINTS MARCELLINUS AND PETER, MARTYRS,

SAINT POTHINUS AND BLANDINA,

SAINTS CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPANIONS,

SAINT KEVIN,

SAINT CLOTILDE,

SAINT FRANCIS CARACCIOLO,

SAINT BONIFACE, BISHOP, MARTYR,

SAINT NORBERT, BISHOP,

SAINT MARCELLIN CHAMPAGNAT,

SAINT JARLATH,

SAINT COLMAN OF DROMORE,

SAINT ROBERT OF NEWMINSTER,

BLESSED ANNED OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW,

SAINT JAMES BERTHIEU,

SAINT WILLIAM OF YORK,

SAINT EPHREM, DEACON, DOCTOR,

SAINT LANDRY OF PARIS,

SAINT COLUMBA,

SAINT JOSE DE ANCHIETA,

THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL OF PORTUGAL,

SAINT BARNABAS, APOSTLE,

SAINT ONUPHRIUS,

SAINT LUTGARD,

SAINT JOHN FRANCIS REGIS,

BLESSED ALPHONSUS MAZUREK AND COMPANIONS,

BLESSED HILARY JANUSZEWSKI,

SAINT ALBERT CHMIELOWSKI,

SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, PRIEST, DOCTOR,

BLESSED MARIA CANDIDA OF THE EUCHARIST,

SAINT DAVNET,

SAINT LIDWINA,

SAINT ELISHA,

BLESSED PETER SNOW AND RALPH CRIMSTON,

SAINT GERMAINE COUSIN,

SAINT RICHARD OF CHICHESTER,

ALL SAINTS OF SCOTLAND,

SAINT BOLTOLPH,

SAINT ROMAULD, ABBOT,

SAINTS ALBAN, JULIUS AND AARON,

THE IRISH MARTYRS,

BLESSED SANCHA, BLESSED MAFALDA, VIRGINS,

BLESSED TERESA, RELIGIOUS,

SAINT ALOYIUS GONZAGA,

SAINT JOHN RIGBY,

SAINTS JOHN FISHER, BISHOP, AND THOMAS MORE, MARTYRS,

SAINT PAULINUS OF NOLA, BISHOP,

SAINT ETHELDREDA,

SAINT THOMAS GARNET,

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST,

SAINT GREGORY BARIGO,

SAINT LUAN,

BLESSED MARY JOSEPHINE CATANEA,

SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA, BISHOP, DOCTOR,

SAINT JOHN SOUTHWORTH,

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR,

BLESSED NYKYTA BUDKA,

BLESSED VASYL VELYCHKOVSKY,

SAINT IRENAEUS,

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES,

THE FIRSTS MARTYRS OF THE SEE OF ROME, 

PRAY FOR US.

This month's photo: Who abide in the shadow of the Almighty. It was Lord Byron (1788-1824) who wrote, "There is a pleasure in the pathless woods." There is, however, also a pleasure in the woods with paths. From a walk in the woods at the Fetzer Institute, Kalamazoo, Michigan. 

© Gertrude Feick 2026

November 2025

Jubilee Holy Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

November is the month dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory 

November 2-8: National Vocation Awareness Week 

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

OUR LADY, QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS,

OUR LADY, GATE OF HEAVEN,

OUR LADY, QUEEN OF ANGELS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US. 

Since I, the Lord, brought you up from the land of Egypt that I might be your God, 

you shall be holy, because I am holy.

(Leviticus 11:45)

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.

(Matthew 5:8)

Dear faithful readers, welcome to November, a stellar month dedicated to the Poor Souls of Purgatory. "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy."

This month is overwhelming with so much to celebrate. The month kicks off with All Saints Day, a day to remember and pray for all the saints, those formally declared saints, and those not. We remember the "saints next door," and other holy people we know and have known, those living, that is, the saints in the making (all of us!), and those who are dead. In addition, November 1 is extra special this year because Pope Leo XIV formally declared Saint John Henry Newman (1801-1890) a Doctor of the Church and named him co-patron of Catholic education alongside Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). November 2 follows with All Souls Day, or The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, and then the list of saints to commemorate goes on and on (see below). We celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, on Sunday, November 23, and have a week to prepare for the First Sunday of Advent, November 30, and the beginning of a new liturgical year. Be sure to get plenty of rest, then, the month will be a busy one. And since we enter a new year in the Church, may I be the first to say, "Happy New Year," remembering what G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) said: "The object of the new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul." And as Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) said, "If you wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new ardor." Let us begin each day anew then, with ardor and strength to carry on according to God's holy will. By the grace of God we go.

Our voices this month all have something to say about the path to holiness. As we respond to the universal call to holiness, for, after all, as Pope Benedict XVI (1927-2022) reminds us, "We are all called to holiness: it is the very nature of Christian living," and thereby want to achieve holiness, may all that we do and say every day this month, and every day all year round, be with the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Have no fear; do not be afraid to be a saint!

When Saint Scholastica asked her brother Saint Benedict what was needed to achieve holiness, she received this reply: "You must want to."

(Saint Maximilian Kolbe, 1894-1941)

God does not command the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ to be preached with the noise of arms and with pillage. What He rather commands is the example of a good life and holy teaching.

(Saint Rogue Gonzalez, 1576-1628)

All the science of the Saints is included in these two things: To do, and to suffer. And whoever has done these two things best, has made himself most saintly.

(Saint Francis de Sales, 1577-1622)

It fills me with joy to realize that I can lay down my life daily for God, that I can sacrifice it willingly for Him. I may not be a martyr for the faith, but I can be a martyr of charity.

(Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, 1769-1852)

[Charity] drives us on to love ourselves and our neighbor, to glorify God in time and in eternity, on earth, in purgatory, and in heaven. It lets us grow into the immensity of the heart of God ...

(Father Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, OP, 1877-1964)

Lord, I am here. Tell me what you would have me to do. If He gives me some task, I am content and I thank Him. If He gives me nothing, I still thank Him.

(Saint Catherine Laboure, 1806-1876)

Tbere is no saint without a past, and no sinner without a future.

(Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354-430)

Let Mary's soul be in each of you to proclaim the greatness of the Lord. Let her spirit be in each of you to rejoice in the Lord. Christ has only one mother in the flesh, but we all bring forth Christ.

(Saint Ambrose of Milan, 339-397)

The good God is free to make us pass better than we are. And we have to accept that like all the rest. If He exposes our weaknesses, or if He shows off our virtues, so what? Nothing is changed! All that is necessary is that we love God truly.

(Guy Oury, OSB, in Dom Gabriel Sortais: An Amazing Abbot in Turbulent Times)

Why is it that any time we speak of temptation we always think of temptation as something that inclines us to wrong. We have more temptations to be good than we do to become bad.

(Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, 1895-1979)

The saints live not after the fashion of the world ... The dignity of the saints is so great because they are not of this world, but "of the household of God."

(Saint Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274)

The saints in each generation, joined to those who have gone before and filled like them with light, become a golden chain, in which each saint is a separate link, united to the next by faith, works and love.

(Saint Simeon the New Theologian, 940-1022)

Filled with light, and united in faith, good works, and love, we are not afraid to be saints and become links in the golden chain. All the saints, angels, and the countless others who have gone before us, please pray for us. Cheer us on to join you at the heavenly banquet. And we are encouraged by our Doctor Mellifuus, Last of the Fathers, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153):

The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent, The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them ... We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness.

SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES,

SAINT WINIFRIDE,

SAINT MALACHY,

BLESSED JOHN BODY,

BLESSED RUPERT MAYER,

SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO,

BLESSED FRANCES D'AMBOISE,

ALL THE SAINTS OF IRELAND,

ALL SAINTS OF AFRICA,

SAINT ILLTUD OR ILLTYD,

SAINT NUNO ALVARES PEREIRA,

SAINT JEAN-THEONARD VENARD,

SAINT WILLIBRORD,

BLESSED FRANCES PALAU Y QUER,

SAINT PETER OU,

ALL SAINTS OF WALES,

BLESSED JOHN DUNS SCOTUS "MASTER OF THOUGHT AND LIFE,"

BLESSED GEORGE NAPIER,

SAINT ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY,

POPE SAINT LEO THE GREAT,

SAINT MARTIN OF TOURS,

SAINT JOSEPHAT, BISHOP, MARTYR,

MOTHER SAINT FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI,

SAINT MACHAR,

BLESSED MARIA TERESA SCRILLI,

SAINT DYFRIG OR DUBRIC OR DUBRICIUS,

SAINT LAURENC O'TOOLE,

THE BEATIFIED MARTYRS OF CLIFTON DIOCESE,

THE READING MARTYRS,

SAINT JOSEPH PIGNATELLI,

ALL CARMELITE SAINTS,

POPE SAINT LEO THE GREAT,

SAINT MARGARET OF SCOTLAND,

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT OF HELFTA,

SAINT EDMUND OF ABINGDON,

OUR LADY GATE OF THE DAWN,

ALL CARMELITE SOULS,

SAINT ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY,

SAINT HILDA,

SAINT HUGH OF LINCOLN,

SAINT DIONYSIUS OF ALEXANDRIA, BISHOP,

SAINT ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY,

SAINT PETER AND PAUL,

SAINT ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE,

SAINT ROQUE GONZALEZ AND HIS COMPANIONS,

SAINT RAPHAEL KALINOWSKI,

SAINT RAFAEL KALINOWSKI,

SAINT EDMUND,

SAINT BERNWARD,

SAINT CECILIA, VIRGIN, MARTYR,

POPE SAINT CLEMENT I,

SAINT COLUMBANUS, ABBOT,

BLESSED MIGUEL AGUSTIN PRO,

SAINT ANDREW DUNG-LAC AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTRYS,

SAINT CATHERINE ALEXANDRIA,

BLESSED NIELS STENSEN,

SAINT COLMAN OF CLOYNE,

SAINT LEONARD OF PORTO MAURIZIO,

SAINT JOHN BERCHMANS,

SAINT FERGAL,

OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL,

SAINT CATHERINE LABOURE,

BLESSED BERNARD FRANCIS DE HOYOS,

ALL THE SAINTS OF THE FRANCISCAN, OR SERAPHIC, ORDER,

BLESSED DENIS AND REDEMPTUS,

SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE,

SAINT CUTHBERT MAYNE,

PRAY FOR US.

This month's photo: Think of what is above, not of what is on earth (Colossians 3:2).

© Gertrude Feick, 2025

September 2025

Jubilee Holy Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

September is the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary 

Holy Mother, pierce me through,

in my heart each wound renew

Of my savior crucified.

SORROWFUL MOTHER, ROCK OF CONSTANCY,

SORROWFUL MOTHER, TREASURE OF THE FAITHFUL,

SORROWFUL MOTHER, MIRROR OF PATIENCE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

SAINT GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL,

SAINT RAPAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother's sister, 

Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.

(John 19:25)

 A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, 

with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

(Revelation 12:1)

Dear Pilgrims of Hope, faithful readers all, welcome to September, the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. And on this first day of the month we celebrate Labor Day. Many will gather today, and have been these past weekend days, to celebrate the end of summer. At the same time, we remember to honor those who labor at home and away from home, with work of the mind, hands, and heart. We also remember to rest from our labors, with time for prayer and holy leisure, in things that refresh and renew us to build the Kingdom of God on earth. Bless the work of our hands and hearts. 

Unless the Lord build the house,

they labor in vain who build it.

(Psalm 127:1)

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

(Matthew 11:28-30)

Why not continue with a quiz? Tradition honors these as the Seven Sorrows of Mary ...  Can you hear the music from Jeopardy? 🎶 Bum bum bum bum, bum bum bum. Bum bum bum bum, bum bum bum bum bum bum. 🎵 Ready or not, here they come ... What are The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:35), The Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13), Search for the Child in Jerusalem (Lk 2:46, 48), Mary Meets Jesus on His Way to the Cross (John 19:17/Luke 23:27), Standing at the Foot of the Cross (John 19:25-27), The Crucifixion and Descent from the Cross (John 19:38), Assisting at the Burial of Christ (Luke 23:55, 56). It occurs to me that any one of us, or a group if you have one, could invent a novena leading up to September 15 when we commemorate Our Lady of Sorrows. Since there are Seven Sorrows, that covers a Sorrow for seven days, the Seven Sorrows could be sandwiched with your favorite prayer to Mary, one on Day 1 (September 7) and one on Day 9 (September 15). Included in those days are September 8, when we celebrate The Birth of Mary, and September 12, when we celebrate The Most Holy Name of Mary. And there is always the Litany to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, a few invocations noted above. What is your favorite invocation? Faithful readers, it is going to be a busy month.

Even though I have been thinking about the Sorrowful Mother, Mary, so strong and courageous, Our Lady who Simeon told, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many may be revealed" (Luke 2:34-35), I have also been thinking about Mary, a Joyful Mother. Yes, Mary was sorrowful. Rightly. At the same time, she was a woman of joy. Otherwise, Mary would not have proclaimed, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior ..." (Luke 1:46-55). We can turn to Mary every day then, and at every moment, for help and guidance, especially as a human tendency is to focus on sorrows, or our troubles and problems. A Sorrowful Mother, Mary is also A Joyful Mother. Mary wept; Mary sang; Mary danced. After all, even babe in the womb John the Baptist leaped for joy when the sound of Mary's greeting reached the ears of her cousin Elizabeth (see Luke 1:41-45). And when I pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, before beginning the Second Mystery, the Visitation, I attempt to give a leap of joy, if not physically, then mentally and in my heart, and pray for Mary and Elizabeth, and little John too, to help me leap for joy. Every one of us has many sorrows: moments of pain, grief, sadness, loneliness, anxiety, fear, doubt. On the other hand, each of us has so much to be joyful about, first and foremost at how much Jesus loves each and every one of us. Yes, Jesus loves you; Jesus loves me. And so does Mary, His mother. There is no greater Love than Jesus. At the same time, there is no greater love than Mary. So, in our favor, we are privileged to have the greatest Love in Jesus, and the greatest love in Mary, His Mother, both sorrowful and joyful. In fact, it is overwhelming even to think about it. So much Love and love. And as I heard a minister preach at a wedding many years ago: "It's all aboot love." Yes, aboot. And it certainly is aboot Love and love. 

And before we hear from a number of voices this month, we also remember September 14, The Exaltation of the Holy Cross. So don't forget to lift high the cross and help others carry their crosses. And then there are the powerful Archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, set for September 29. And an added bonus is that we begin the third "straight through" read of the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict for 2025 (see Rule of Saint Benedict 58:9-16). So, we begin with "Listen carefully, my son, to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice" (RB Prologue 1). Did I mention the heavy line-up of saints to pray for us this month? You will see below ... 

First, speaking of dancing ...

Therefore, let all creation sing and dance and unite to make worthy contribution to the celebration of this day. Let there be a common festival for saints in heaven and men on earth. Let everything, mundane things and those above, join in festive celebration. Today this created world is raised to the dignity of a holy place for Him who made all things. The creature is newly prepared to be a divine dwelling place for the Creator.

(From a discourse by Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop, in Office of Readings, September 8, Birth of Mary)

In dangers,

in hardships

in every doubt

think of Mary

call out to Mary.

Keep her in your mouth

keep her in your heart ...

With your hand in hers

you will never stumble.

With her protecting you

you will not be afraid.

With her leading you

you will never tire.

Her kindness

will see you through to the end.

Then you will know 

by your own experience

how true it is that

the Virgin's Name was Mary.

(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153)

Although you have not seen Him you love Him;

even though you do not see Him now yet believe in Him,

you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy.

(1 Peter 1:8)

Many times, praying at odd hours of the night, the little birds would come to sing and I would bet with them who would praise God the most.

(Blessed John Macias, 1585-1645)

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither.

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

(J.R.R. Tolkien, 1892-1973)

Jesus alone is my hope.

(Blessed Catherine of Racconigi, 1486-1547)

Manners or good behavior cannot be separated from Christian morals, since Christianity cannot succeed where ordinary humanity is absent.

(Pope Benedict XVI, 1927-2022)

If I ever become a saint-I will surely be one of "darkness". I will continually be absent from heaven-to light the light of those in darkness on earth.

(Saint Teresa of Calcutta, 1910-1997)

I forgive, I forgive, I forgive.

(Last words of Blessed Leonella Sgorbati, 1940-2006)

The melody of her life is played just as it was written. Mary was thought, conceived, and planned as the equal sign between ideal and history, thought and reality, hope and realization.

(Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, 1895-1975)

Many acts of love for God ... although good and very desirable, are yet very suspect when they do not lead to the practice of effective love.

(Saint Vincent de Paul. 1580-1660)

Joy, with peace, is the sister of charity. Serve the Lord with laughter.

(Saint Pius of Pietrelcina "Padre Pio" 1887-1968)

In moments when fever, agony, and pain make it hard to pray, the suggestion of prayer that comes from merely holding the rosary-or better still, 

from caressing the Crucifix at the end of it-is tremendous!

(Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, 1895-1975)

Let us love our neighbors, my friends, let us love the one who is near to us, so that we may be able to reach the love of the one who is above us. Then we shall reach the happiness of the heavenly multitude, the happiness of which we have received an assurance of the Holy Spirit. Let us move forward toward that goal where we shall be happy without end with all our love.

(Pope Saint Gregory the Great, 540-604)

If men only knew the power of love. which they often appreciate so little-the power of being able to love, to be sustained and defended by love, to grow in love at every instant. This, in spite of the imperfections of all my works, gives me the courage to labor ... My longings to love God are infinite, and only God can fill my emptiness with His infinite love ... I need all His love in order to love Him as I ought. I hope that He will give it to me, and I do not doubt that He will.

(Venerable Mary Magdalene of Jesus in the Eucharist, C.P., d. 1960)

SAINT GILES,

SAINT TERESA MARGARET REDI OF THE SACRED HEART,

SAINT BEATRICE DA SILVA MENESES,

BLESSED ANDRE GRASSET DE SAINT SAUVER,

THE SEPTEMBER MARTRYS,

JESUIT MARTYRS FOR THE NAME OF JESUS,

POPE SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT,

POPE SAINT BONIFACE I,

SAINT CUTHBERT,

SAINT MAC NISSI,

BLESSED DINA BELANGER,

MOTHER SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA,

SAINT HERBERT,

BLESSED THOMAS TZUGI,

SAINT PETER CLAVER,

BLESSED FREDERIC OZANAM,

SAINT CIARAN OF GLONMACNOISE,

SAINT OSBURG,

SAINT AMBROSE BARLOW, OSB,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO,

SAINT EGWIN, BISHOP,

BLESSED AGNELLUS OF PISA, PRIEST,

BLESSED FRANCIS GARATE,

BLESSED OGLERIO OF LORELIO,

SAINT PETER II OF TARENTAISE,

SAINT DEINIOL,

SAINT JANE GABRIEL,

SERVANT OF GOD VINCENT CAPODANNO,

BLESSED MARY OF JESUS,

VENERABLE ALOYSIUS SCHWARTZ,

BLESSED APOLLINARIS FRANCO,

SAINT AILBE,

SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, BISHOP, DOCTOR,

OUR LADY OF SORROWS,

SAINT MIRIN,

POPE SAINT CORNELIUS,

SAINT CYPRIAN,

SAINT NINIAN,

SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE, 

SAINT HILDEGARD OF BINGEN,

SAINT ALBERT OF JERUSALEM,

SAINT EDITH OF KEMSING,

SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO,

SAINT STANISLAW KOSTKA,

SAINT JANUARIUS, BISHOP, MARTYR,

SAINT EMILY DE RODAT,

SAINT THEODORE OF TARSUS,

SAINT ANDREW KIM TAEGON, PAUL CHONG HASANG, AND COMPANIONS,

ALL KOREAN MARTYRS,

SAINT MATTHEW, APOSTLE, EVANGELIST,

SAINT MAURICE AND THE THEBAN LEGION,

SAINT THOMAS OF VILLANOVA,

SAINT PIUS OF PIETRELCINA "PADRE PIO", PRIEST,

SAINT ADOMNAN OF IONA,

SAINT STEPHANIE,

OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM,

BLESSED ANTON MARTIN SLOMSHEK,

BLESSED EMILIE TAVERNIER-GAMELIN,

SAINT FINBARR,

SAINT HERMANN CONTRACTUS,

SAINT COSMAS AND DAMIAN, MARTYR,

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, PRIEST,

SAINT WENCESLAUS,

SAINT LAWRENCE RUIZ AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,

SAINT LIOBA,

SAINT MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS,

SAINT JEROME, PRIEST, DOCTOR,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. A new custom is to post a reflection at the commencement of each month of the calendar year, which turns out to be 12 months, each with a specific Catholic devotion. United in faith and prayer, we keep going. Until further notice.

This month's photo: Mother Do Not Mourn for Me, by the hand of Sister Suzanne, ocso.

© Gertrude Feick 2025

August 2025

Jubilee Holy Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

August is the month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Sing with joy to God our help.

HEART OF MARY, BLESSED AMONG ALL HEARTS,

HEART OF MARY, SEAT OF MERCY,

OUR LADY, QUEEN AND MOTHER,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Hope finds its supreme witness in the Mother of God. In the Blessed Virgin, we see that hope is not naive optimism, but a gift of grace beyond the realities of life.

(Spes non confundit, Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025, 24)

Dear faithful readers, welcome to the month of August, the month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Inspired by Mary, I thought it was a good day to pay special attention to Our Lady, in this very special month dedicated to her ever-loving heart. A heart so BIG, it occurred to me, that it has room for all of us. That is one BIG heart. 💓 So this month, each and every day, listen to Cistercian Father Adam of Perseigne (1145-1221), who wrote, "If you stand in need of mercy, it is found in the full measure in the heart of the Virgin" (Letter III). Go to Mary then, when you find yourself troubled, anxious, worried, or needing a dose of tender loving care. At the same time, however, Mary is ever ready to sing with you, as you sing the praise of her beloved Son for the many gifts He has bestowed upon you. With Mary, let your soul magnify the Lord! And if this is not enough, how about this from Saint Rafael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938).

Surely we'd go mad if we truly loved Mary. By honoring the Virgin, we will love Jesus more. By placing ourselves under her mantle, we will understand divine mercy better. When we invoke Her name, it's as if everything becomes lighter. When we turn to Her as our intercessor, what will we not receive from her Son, Jesus?

In addition to dear Mary, we also have a heavy hitter list (that seems to grow day by day☺) of saints to invoke this month, beginning today with a great Doctor of the Church, patron saint of confessors and moralists, Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1698-1787). Speaking of Doctors of the Church, did you hear the good news that Saint John Henry Newman (1801-1890) will be declared a Doctor of the Church by the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV? It was the Holy Father's predecessor in name, Pope Leo XIII, who made John Henry Newman a Cardinal in 1879. 

August is also loaded with feasts to celebrate such as the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (August 5), the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6), the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15, the patronal feast of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance), the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 22), and the Passion of Saint John the Baptist (August 29).

As I've gone on for some time now, we close with a few voices, that too, may grow as the month progresses. Keep the faith. Keep going. We are united in faith and love. That's ALL of us who fit together into the BIG heart of Mary Immaculate. No pushing and shoving allowed; there is room for everybody! The first one is a favorite.

My mother [Mary] is very strange; if I bring her flowers she does not want them; if I bring her cherries she will not take them, and if I then ask what she desires, she replies, "I desire thy heart, for I live in hearts."

(Saint Joseph of Cupertino, 1603-1663)

The spiritual beauty of God is reflected in the most holy Virgin Mother of God.

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2502)

All for God and all through Mary!

(Saint Rafael Arnaiz Baron, 1911-1938)

Be humble. Trust always and a great deal in divine Providence; never, never must you let yourselves be discouraged, despite contrary winds. I say it again: trust in God and Mary Immaculate; be faithful and forge ahead.

(Saint Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, 1865-1942)

The golden urn is blessed Mary,

golden by reason of the excellence of her life,

golden through her integrity and purity,

golden through the fullness of grace.

(Amadeus of Lausanne, 1110-1159)

And for all Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year:

Mary is the reason for all my hope.

(Poster in the cell of Padre Pio, 1887-1968)

I feel that my mission is being a mother ... I wish to encompass in my soul the love from all of heaven and earth, the immense and maternal love of Mary.

(Blessed Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, 1862-1937)

And just in case you thought that Mary wasn't human, let Mother Teresa bring you back to earth.

What did Mary do, after she heard that she was to bear the Savior? Did she stay and meditate on the great mystery? No, when she heard that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was also with child, she immediately got up to go on a long journey - a very long journey to help her. To wash the pots and pans and whatever needed to be done.

(Saint Teresa of Calcutta, 1910-1997)

SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI,

SAINT EUSEBIUS OF VERCELLI,

SAINT PETER JULIAN EYMARD,

OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS,

SAINT GERMANUS OF AUXERRE,

SAINT OSWALD,

SAINT AETHELWOLD,

SAINT JOHN VIANNEY, CURE OF ARS,

POPE SAINT SIXTUS II AND COMPANIONS,

SAINT CAJETAN,

OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS,

SAINT EMYGDIUS,

BLESSED FREDERIC JANSSOONE.

SAINT NICHOLAS POSTGATE,

SAINT ALBERT OF TRAPANI,

SAINT MARY OF THE CROSS,

SAINT LAURENCE,

BLESSED ISIDORE BAKANJA,

SAINT MUREDACH,

SAINT ATTRACTA,

SAINT LELIA,

SAINT BLAAN,

SAINT DOMINIC,

SAINT TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH,

SAINT CLARE OF ASSISI,

SAINT FRANCES DE CHANTAL,

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES,

BLESSED ISIDORE BAKANJA,

SAINT MUREDACH,

SAINT ATTRACTA,

SAINT LELIA,

SAINT BLAAN,

SAINT PONTIAN AND HIPPOLYTUS,

SAINT FACHTNA OR FACHANAN OF ROSS,

BLESSED WILLIAM FREEMAN,

BLESSED MICHAEL MCGIVNEY,

SAINT MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR,

SAINT MAXIMILLAN KOLBE,

SAINT STEPHEN OF HUNGARY,

SAINT ROCH,

BLESSED ANGELUS MAZZINGHI,

BLESSED VICTORIA RASOAMANARIVO,

SAINT HELENA,

SAINT ALBERTO HURTADO CRUCHAGA,

BLESSEDS JOHN-BAPTIST DUVERNEUIL, MICHAEL-ALOYSIUS BRULARD AND JAMES GAGNOT,

SAINT EZEKIEL MORENO,

SAINT OSWIN

SAINT JOHN EUDES,

SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX,

POPE SAINT PIUS X,

SAINT JOHN KEMBLE,

SAINT ROSE OF LIMA,

SAINT EUGENE,

SAINT JOHN WALL,

SAINT LOUIS OF FRANCE,

SAINT JOSEPH CALASANZ,

SAINT MARY OF JESUS CRUCIFIED BAOUARDY,

BLESSED DOMINIC BARBERI,

SAINT DAVID LEWIS,

OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA,

SAINT CAESARIUS OF ARLES,

BLESSED JOSEPH RETOURET,

SAINT TERESA OF JESUS' TRANSVERBERATION,

SAINT JEANNE ELIZABETH DES BICHIER DES ANGES,

SAINT MONICA,

SAINT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST,

BEATRICE OF NAZARETH,

SAINT MARGARET CLITHEROW,

SAINT ANNE LINE,

SAINT MARGARET WARD,

BLESSED GHEBRE MICHAEL,

SAINT FIACRE,

SAINT JEANNE JUGAN, AKA SISTER MARY OF THE CROSS,

SAINT EDMUND ARROWSMITH,

SAINT AIDAN,

PRAY FOR US.

This month's photo: Thank you to Jean, who not only loves sunflowers, grows a variety of them in her garden. 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

© Gertrude Feick 2025

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Jubilee Holy Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

From your heart let praises burst.

HEART OF MARY, UNITED TO THE HEART OF JESUS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HEART OF JESUS, TABERNACLE OF THE MOST HIGH,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;

whoever eats this bread will live forever.

Alleluia.

Welcome to Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, a feast instituted by Pope Urban IV in 1264. I believe, help my unbelief. 

In the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time, still in the month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we have the privilege of celebrating the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist on June 24th, followed by the celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 27th, followed by the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary on June 28th. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful to me (Psalm 13). How about this from 17th century Camaldolese hermit Dom Roberto: "The precise will of God is that we serve, honor, and tenderly love Mary." Heart of Mary, most humble, pray for us.

There are certainly more than a few Eucharistic processions happening throughout the world today. Among other ones, both small and large, there is the one in Orvieto, Italy.  It is a marvel to behold. Hundreds and hundreds of locals arrayed in medieval attire process through the streets with the Holy Eucharist and the Sacred Corporeal "The Miracle of Bolsena." About the Sacred Corporeal, it is said that Peter of Prague, a Bohemian priest, a doubting one at that, while on his way to Rome in 1263, stopped in Bolsena to celebrate Mass. During the celebration of the Mass, drops of blood started falling from the communion bread he was holding; the drops stained the corporeal. When Pope Urban IV heard of this, he had the sacred corporeal moved to Orvieto, where it is kept at the Cathedral of Orvieto* (awesome), in the Chapel of the Corporeal. My favorite image of Our Lady hangs there, Madonna de Raccomandati, loosely translated as Our Lady of Mercy. In it, Our Lady, surrounded by angels, spreads her protective veil over men and women of the medieval period. I have had the holy card in my monthly missal for years. Our Lady of Mercy, Our Lady of those recommended to her, cover us in your protective veil. May we receive the "grace of a deeper gratitude for what we receive in the Holy Eucharist" (Magnificat, June 22, 2025, Prayer of the Faithful). BTW, Peter of Prague no longer doubted. However, I am not sure. ☺

My nearly 100 sheets of voices include many who have something to say about the Eucharist. I include a few and conclude with a doozy from Pope Benedict XVI, some of which I had the privilege of proclaiming at Vigils last night. 

The Eucharistic sacrifice is the fount and apex of the whole Christian life.

(Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium Christ is the light of the nations, 11) 

Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth, the Blessed Sacrament. There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth.

(J.R.R. Tolkien, 1892-1973)

Very bread, good shepherd tend us,

Jesu, of your love befriend us,

You refresh us, you defend us,

Your eternal goodness send us

In the land of life to see.

(Sequence for Corpus Christi Laud, O Zion "Lauda Sion")

Every consecrated host is made to burn itself up with love in a human heart.

(Saint John Vianney, 1786-1859)

Christ gave us the sacraments in order that we might better keep the two great commandments. You will learn about Catholic belief by studying the sacramental life of the Church. The center of this is the Eucharist ... I believe what the Church teaches-that God has given us reason to use and that it can lead us toward a knowledge of Him through analogy; that He revealed Himself in history and continues to do so through the Church, and that He is present (not just symbolically) in the Eucharist on our altars. To believe all this I don't take any leap into the absurd. I find it reasonable to believe, even though these beliefs are beyond reason.

(Flannery O'Connor, 1925-1964, in The Habit of Being, ed. Sally Fitzgerald)

By the Mass and Communion, I must become more and more like Christ.

(Marcel Callo, 1921-1945)

At last God is mine and I am His! Now, let all go its round-I have received Him.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821, after receiving Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time)

There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us.

(Saint John Vianney, 1786-1859)

To be always close to Jesus, that is my life's plan.

The Eucharist is my highway to heaven.

The Rosary is the ladder to climb to Heaven.

(Blessed Carlos Acutis, 1991-2006, will be canonized September 7, 2025)

Jesus Eucharistic is a conqueror ... He wants to subject the universe to His gentle sway.

(Saint Peter Julian Eymard, 1811-1868)

Here is some of what Pope Benedict XVI preached on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, June 23, 2011.

Saint Augustine helps us to understand the dynamic of Eucharistic communion when he mentions a sort of vision that he had, in which Jesus said to him: "I am the food of strong men; grow and you shall feed on me; nor shall you change me, like the food of your flesh into yourself, but you shall be changed into my likeness" (Confessions, VII, 10, 18).

Therefore, whereas food for the body is assimilated by our organism and contributes to nourishing it, in the case of the Eucharist it is a different Bread; it is not we who assimilate it, but it assimilates us in itself, so that we become conformed to Jesus Christ, a member of His Body, one with Him. This passage is crucial. In fact, precisely because it is Christ who, in Eucharistic communion changes us into Him, our individuality, in this encounter, is opened, liberated from its egocentrism and inserted into the Person of Jesus who in His turn is immersed in Trinitarian communion. The Eucharist, therefore, while it unites us to Christ also opens us to others, makes us members of one another: we are no longer divided but one in Him. Eucharistic communion not only unites me to the person beside me and with whom I may not even be on good terms, but also to our distant brethren in every part of the world.

As I said, it's a doozy.☺ Until next time, keep the faith and keep going. And day by day, the list of saints of to intercede for us grows ...

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST,

SAINT PAULINUS OF NOLA,

SAINT THOMAS MORE,

BLESSED BASIL HOPKO,

SAINT JOSEPH CAFASSO,

SAINT ETHELDREDA,

SAINT LUAN,

SAINT WILLIAM OF VERCELLI,

BLESSED MARY JOSEPHINE CATANEA,

SAINT JOSE MARIA ESCRIVA DE BALAGUER,

SAINT PELAGIUS,

SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA,

SAINT JOHN SOUTHWORTH.

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR,

BLESSED NYKYTA BUDKA,

BLESSED VASYL VELYCHKOVSKY,

SAINT LADISLAS,

SAINT ELIZABETH OF SCHONAU,

SAINT IRENAEUS, BISHOP, DOCTOR, MARTYR, 

SAINT VINCENTIA GEROSA,

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL,

THE FIRST MARTYRS OF THE SEE OF ROME,

SAINT JUNIPERO SERRA,

SAINT OLIVER PLUNKETT, 

BLESSED NAZJU FALZON,

SAINT OTTO OF BAMBERG,

SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE, 

BLESSED JOHN CORNELIUS,

BLESSED MARIA CROCIFISSA CURCIO,

BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATTI,

SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL,

SAINT ANTHONY MARY ZACCARIA,

OUR LADY OF BUDSLAU,

BLESSED GEORGE NICHOLS, RICHARD YAXLEY, THOMAS BELSON, HUMPRHEY PRITCHARD,

SAINT MODWEN,

SAINT MARIA GORETTI,

SAINT MONNINE,

BLESSED PETER TO ROT,

SAINT MAELRUAIN,

BLESSED MARIA ROMERO MENESES,

SAINT KILIAN,

SAINT WITHBURGA,

SAINTS AQUILA AND PRISCILLA,

THE MARTYRS OF GORCAM,

SAINT AUGUSTINE ZHAO RONG AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,

SAINT VILLEHAD, MARTYR,

SAINT LEO IGNATIUS, PRIEST, MARY ZHU WU AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,

BLESSED JANE SCOPELLI,

BLESSED EUGENE III, CISTERCIAN POPE,

VENERABLE AUGUSTUS TOLTON,

SAINT CANUT, KING AND MARTYR, PATRON OF DENMARK,

MARTYRS OF DAMASCUS,

PRAY FOR US.

*See www.duomodiorvieto.it. 

Today's photo: From d and John's garden of delights. Blessed be God Most High.

© Gertrude Feick 2025